The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-10-08
THE TEMPEST STILLED.
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY REV. GEO.
p. HAYES, D. D., L.. D.

Text Of the Lesson. Matt. will, 1871.
Golden Text, Matt will. 20.
VS.. lS-o2. Excited professions. -The multi
tudes which were above Christ would seem To
have made it very important that he should
stay, instead Of departing to the other side;
but he had already given abundant instruc.
ton TO those in this region OF Capernaun, ut
least for present uses. His voyage to the
other side took him to a region Of compare
tive heathendom. Their employment showed
that they were not strict Jews. As Jesus was
departing, seemingly under the pressure OF
his past dscourses, and probably with some
heedlessness and impulsiveness one who had
already professed, as is indicated by the word
'.another," and who was himself a scholar,
came to Christ with the recognition OF nu-
thority involved in the word Master and
said, II will follow thee withersoever thou
goest" This was an excellent profession OF
conservation. II it was uttered by Judas,
Christ's warning to him to count we'll the
cost was exceedingly pertinent In contrast
with his desire for ease. Christ cites his own
homelessness.
II any excuse would seem to he good for
gested in v. 81 should be SO counted. 1t is
the utterance Of filial affection, and filial
duty was very highly esteemed among the
Jews No doubt spiritual death is here con-
trasted with physical death, and let the dead
| spiritually bury their dead physically
brings out the Saviour's instruction. Even
if this was case of the actual death Of his
father, it is only the stronger type OF all the
excuses which grow out of worldly action and
friendly relationship. Whether kindred
are dead in body or only dead in sin, even
though they he parents or nearest OF kin.
nothing can excuse us from the immediate
service of Christ. What Seem to be duties
will often conflict but no real duty can be a
necessary hindrance to serving Christ. He is
first and always first.
V. 1927. The departure says that
more ships were present than this one into
which Christ and his disciples entered. As
the fleet set SAIL nearly the whole leadership
of the incipient church was on that sea. 1t
is not wonderful then that the prince OF the
power of the air should stir up all nature to
wreck the whole fleet, but especially the par
ticular ship on which were found Christ and
his disciples. Probably all of the twelve were
present and heard the strictness required i'll
Christ's reply to the three with whom he had
| lust spoken. Ii, after that standard of SER
vice was set up, they still followed him,
Satan might well suppose that their courage
would hold out to the last. How far the
prince Of darkness is able to affect the forces
of nature we are not required here to deter
mine II is certain that he cannot go beyond
the permission Of the head Of the church, and
tl,,c 10 nf In
Sudden gusts Of wind frequently break in
upon the sea Of Tiberias from the surround
ing mountains.
| When this ship and its companions were
out upon the sea one of these sudden tempests
broke upon them The very sea seemed to
be in commissions. In the midst of all this
Christ was in quiet place fast asleep. This
is the only place i'll his life in which
it is recorded that he slept Nothing
else which he could have done would
have indicated his perfect faith and conf
dence in his power to save. His disciples had
not vet learned his power so well as to share
in this sense of security. They were not
towards, but they were terribly scared when
they saw him asleep. They supposed his pro-
lection was also asleep. Their cry Of Lord,
save us: we perish luke viii, "a is very ex-
pressivc. " 26 The waves stilled.-And ii
is to be noticed that Christ rebuked not
merely the winds, but the sea also Mark iv,
80; Luke viii, 24). If he had only rebuked
the wind the sea would have become still by
and by. but under these circumstances the
proof of the manifestation OF miracle would
not have been SO perfect. The winds often
come no suddenly, and often as suddenly
cease: but when he stilled the sea and its
waves, that was not merely the stilling of the
wind.
V. 81. Who is ths?--If we can thoroughly
| repre- sent to ourselves this scene, we shall
understand the strong meaning involved in
the expression, "What manner of man is
this!' Herein is raised the whole question OF
his nature. Sleight Of hand and trickery
were as certainly excluded in this manifesto
ton of his power as they are in his modern
manifestations of omnipOtence in the fulfill
ment of prophecy. Omnipotence is no more
required to still the sea and the winds than il
is required to bring to pass the futillment OF
his word amidst tho wars and migrations and
discussions and distresses Of the nations.
| Alas that these disciples should after this
have ever lost their perfect faith in him, and
much more that after l,S0O years of the ex
perlellce OF InTlsJS power 10 protect Ills
church and bring its work to his destined end
and glory, we should ever, with like unbeliet
and fear cry as if the Saviour was asleep
Master, MASTER save thy kingdom, or it will
| perish.
SUCCESSIVE APPLICATIONS
The Son of man hath not where to lay his
head, v. 20 Few things touch us more
quickly and deeply than feeling Of utter
homelessness; yet this was the thought tina,
was filling the mind Of Jesus when lie made
the reply to the Jewish scribe. 1t is easy &c
sing of being pilgrim and stranger" but
to face the real fact is serious and sorrowfu
business And it would certainly be tina,
when one like the scribe and many OF the
disciples of old expected to find not only q
home by following Jesus, but share in a
kingdom which would be more glorious than
any on the earth. They were looking not
merely to the spiritual glories and advan
tages which would come TO the subjects OF
that kingdom; the world has not yet got be
yond this thought. Some are willing enough
TO serve the church il tney Gun possess tn,
temporal honors and the temporal comfort
which church and home bring. And ye
there is but one true home, mansion which
Christ has gone to prepare; and those WHIT
Lar r>la tn, th,t ba y,